Floor-set.



A No. 863,394.'

PATENTED AUG.13, 1907.

C. L.A HOPKINS.

FLOOR SET.

APPLIOATION FILED Arn.a,19o7.

7 /NVEN-TOR Y 8 67m? 'x n I WTNESSES c i lilies, on the other side.

CHARLES L. HOPKINS, OF WAVELAND, MISSISSIPPI'.

FLOOR-SET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 13, 1907.

Application filed April 8,1907. Serial No. 866,990.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES L. HOPKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Waveland, in the county of Hancock and State of Mississippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Floor- Sets, of which the following is a specification. A

My invention relates to floor-sets, and it is an improvement upon the invention covered by United States Letters Patent, No. 822,126, granted to me May 29, 1906. Its object is to provide such a floor-set, having a head preferably perpendicular to its sides, and having also securing and adjusting means whereby the floor-set can be secured to and adjusted upon a joist in any desired angular or other position. A wedge is inserted between the head of the Hoor-set and the flooring to be positioned, and is driven into contact with both. This forces the flooring tightly together and holds it firmly while it is being secured by nails or -other means.

Generally stated, the invention consists of a box-like structure, formed preferably of a blank of sheet metal, and having a head preferably perpendicular to the depending sides, which are provided with devices whereby the floor-set, after being placed upon a joist, can be adjusted to any angular or other position thereon, and secured rmly thereto.

The invention also consists in the novel constructions and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure I is a perspective view of the device viewed from beneath. Fig. 2 is a view of the blank from which the device is formed. Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the set secured to a floor-joist, at an angle thereto, by means of four adjusting and securing screws. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing one side of the device provided with an eccentric, and the other side with two screws. Fig. 5 shows the device provided with an engaging projection on one side, and two screws on the other side. Fig. G Ashows the device with two screws on one side, and a single screw, in dotted Fig. 7 is a view of the device showing it in a position with its sides parallel to its supporting joist.

The floor-set is provided with a top plate I, depending side flanges 2, an end supporting flange 3, and a depending head 4, all formed integral. The head 4 is oppositely disposed to the end flange 3, and has a portion approximately equal in height thereto, and in conjunction with the end flange supports the floor-set on a joist. The head 4 is formed with laterally extending, alining wings 5, which extend beyond the sides 2. The head 4 and integral wings 5 are approximately perpendicular to the sides 2, which are provided with screwtlneaded openings 6, which receive screws 7, having heads 8, suitable for their manual operation.

In the use of the device it is placed upon a joist 9, shown in broken lines in the figures, with the side Hang-es 2 overlapping the sides of the joist, and the end 3, and head 4, bearing upon the upper side thereof. The device is then adjusted and secured in position. The boards, shown in broken lines, are then placed in position and a wedge, also shown in bioken lines, is driven between the head and the boarding, contacting with both, and driving the boarding together, and holding it firmly while it is being secured in position.

If it be desired to use one wedge, the screws are adjusted to dispose the device at an angle to the joist, the angle being as desired. The screws are then forced into binding engagement with the joist, thereby securing firmly the floor-set in its angular position.

The angular adjustment and final securing of the floorset can be accomplished by four screws, as shown in Fig. 3, the screws being used as before explained to first secure the desired inclination of the device and thereafter to be tightened to hold the device in its adjusted position g or, as shown in Fig. 4, two screws can be provided for one side flange, and a clamping eccen tric I0, provided for the other side flange; or, as shown in Fig. 5, two screws can be used in one side flange, and a rocking-point l1, formed on the opposite fiange of the floor-set, can engage the side of the joist opposite that engaged by the two screws, and form the fulcrum upon which they can rock the :floor-set; or, as shown in Fig. 6, two screws on one side could be used to draw one corner of the device into contact with the joist, the pressure of the wedge normal to the head and parallel to the sides of the device being depended upon to keep the screws in engagement with the joist, or one screw, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, or a block inserted between the side opposite the screws and the contiguous face of the joist could be used as an equivalent of the rocking-point shown in Fig. 5.

If it be desired to not place the set at an angle to the joist, or if it be desired to use two wedges, the floor-set can be placed upon the joist, with its side flanges parallel to the joist and its head perpendicular thereto, and in this position two screws, engaging the joist, and drawing the opposite side into frictional Contact with the joist, would be sufficient to hold the device in position. The screws used 'in holding this form of the device are on one side thereof.

The device can be easily and cheaply made, and it forms a most durable and handy device for its purpose.

The perpendicular relation of the head to the sides is a decided advantage in the manufacture of the device; and the possible variation of the angular position of the device is a decided convenience in its use, as it permits the device to be placed at an angle to either side ofthe j eist, thereby making it possible to have the larger end of the wedge shaped opening at either the right or left as desired for convenience in driving the wedge,

2 ses ,394

and it also permits the use of Wedges of any angle, the inclination of which can be met by means ol the adjusting screws.

as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent thereon, is-

l. A hoor-set adapted to be used in conjunction with '.1 wedge and comprising' a top plate, side anges connected to the top plate and depending therefrom, a head perpendicular to the side liang'es and integral with and depending from the top plate, a supporting liange connected to and depending from the top plate at the end thereof opposite the head, a plurality of screws carried by one of the side flanges in screw-threaded openings therein, and means carried by the other side flange and adapted to cooperate with the screws the screws and the coperatingl means being adapted to Vary the angular relation of the door-set l Having thus described my invention, what I claim to its support for the purpose of varying the horizontal angle which the head makes with the ooring the screvs and coperating means being adapted to also secure the floor-set to its support after such adjustment.

2. In a device of the character described having a top plate, side flanges and an end flange, a head perpendicular to the side anges and having laterally extending wings, and two screws carried by each side ange in screwthreaded openings therein.

3. A device of the character described formed in a single piece and comprising a top plate, side lianges, an end supporting ange, and a head perpendicular to the side flanges and formed with laterally extending wings.

In testimony whereof I al'ix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHAS. L. HOPKINS.

Witnesses:

B. F. JONAS, W. R. MASON. 

